Hey everyone, Elias from Rivals Sector. Let’s have a real talk about the meta.
In any extraction shooter, we all get obsessed with the top-tier. We see the big streamers running Legendary-kitted SMGs or Epic one-shot snipers, and we think that is the only way to win. We grind for that S-Tier gear, get it, and then die to a player in a bush with a common pistol. Why? Because in ARC Raiders Renegade, “meta” is not just about the gun, it is about the run.
What do you run when you are not rich? What do you run when you have “gear fear” but still want to be lethal? You run the workhorses. You run the mid-tier.
And in my expert opinion, there is no gun in the game that defines the “mid-tier” better than the Renegade itself. Yes, the Rare, lever-action Battle Rifle that shares its name with the game.
I have seen so many players find this gun, try it, miss a few shots, and stash it forever. They call it “clunky” or “slow.” I am here to tell you that you are looking at it all wrong. The Renegade is not just a gun, it is a journey. It is the perfect bridge from a broke-scavenger to a kitted-out-slayer.
Let’s dive deep into my guide for the most underrated rifle in the entire game.
The Renegade: A Mid-Tier Masterpiece
So, what is the Renegade?
On paper, it is a Rare (Blue) Battle Rifle that uses Medium Ammo. You will start finding it pretty reliably once you get your bearings in the game, and it is craftable at the Gunsmith bench for a very reasonable cost.
This “Rare” status is precisely what makes it mid-tier. It is not a “Common” (grey) piece of junk you want to toss, and it is not an “Epic” (purple) weapon that will break your heart when you lose it. It sits in that perfect sweet spot where it is both expendable and effective.
It is a lever-action rifle. That means you fire a shot, your character works the lever, and you fire again. This is not a full-auto “spray and pray” weapon. It is a methodical, heavy-hitting “skill cannon.” And that is the part that scares most players away.
The Medium Ammo is also key. It has “Moderate” armor penetration, which means it is a hybrid. It will not shred a high-level ARC like Heavy Ammo, and it will not “plink” uselessly like Light Ammo. It can hurt players and it can hurt ARCs. It is the jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none, which is exactly what a mid-tier hero needs to be.
The Good: Why I Love This Space-Cowboy Rifle
I have a soft spot for the Renegade because it rewards good gameplay. When I am killed by a player using one, I am not even mad. I just nod and say, “Nice shot.”
Here is why it is secretly amazing.
- Pinpoint Accuracy: The first shot out of a Renegade is dead-on. Its base accuracy is fantastic, and it excels at the 50-100 meter range. This is where most ARs start to see damage falloff, but the Renegade is just getting comfortable.
- High Alpha Damage: This gun hits hard. We are talking two-shot-kills to the chest if a player has no shield. If you can land that “clink” headshot, it is devastating. It creates an immediate power-shift in a mid-range fight.
- The “Skill-Cannon” Feel: Let’s be real, this gun just feels good. The chunky “ka-chunk” of the lever-action, the heavy “boom” of the shot, the way it forces you to be deliberate. It is one of the most satisfying guns in the game to get a kill with.
- Hybrid Versatility: Do not underestimate the Medium Ammo. Being able to pop a few shots at a rival player and then turn to crack open an ARC’s weak point with the same gun is a massive advantage. It saves you from having to carry a specialized weapon for each.
It is the perfect gun for a player who wants to prove their aim is better than their opponent’s gun.
The Bad: Why It Is Not on Every Meta List
Okay, now for the reality check. There is a reason this gun is not on the S-Tier of every ARC Raider meta tier list. It is mid-tier because it has clear, punishing weaknesses. If you do not respect them, you will die.
- The Fire Rate. Oh, the Fire Rate: This is its biggest flaw. That lever-action animation is slow on the base model. If you are in a close-quarters (CQC) fight, you are dead. If you miss your first shot against a player with an SMG, you are dead. It is brutally unforgiving.
- CQC Liability: Do not bring this gun into a building. Do not try to clear a room with it. This is a mid-range weapon, period. A player with a Bobcat or a Venator will delete you before you can even work the lever for your second shot.
- Small Magazine: The base Renegade does not hold a lot of ammo. You will be reloading often, which is another opening for an aggressive player to push you.
- It Demands Perfection: This gun has no “safety net.” A full-auto AR like the Tempest lets you miss a few shots and correct your aim. The Renegade demands that you hit your shots, or you pay the price.
This combination of high-skill-ceiling and high-risk is what makes it the ultimate mid-tier weapon.
My Blueprint: How to Mod the Renegade
A “naked” Renegade is a liability. A modded Renegade is a monster. Since it is a Rare-tier weapon, its mod slots are limited at first, but your crafting choices are critical. Your goal is to fix its weaknesses and boost its strengths.
Here is my go-to modding setup.
| Mod Slot | My Pick | Why This Mod? |
| Optic | 2x “Marksman” Sight | The Renegade’s iron sights are clean, but a 2x optic is the sweet spot. It gives you perfect target acquisition at 50-100 meters without the tunnel vision of a long-range scope. |
| Barrel | Silencer (Tier I or II) | This is my secret weapon. A silencer keeps you off the audio “radar.” For a gun that relies on landing the first shot from a good position, being quiet is a massive tactical advantage. |
| Stock | Stable Stock | Anything that improves Aim-Down-Sights (ADS) speed or stability is a win. You want to snap to your target and have that first shot be perfectly stable. |
| Grip | Vertical Grip | While recoil is not a huge issue (since it is not full-auto), a grip that improves handling and “aiming stability” makes follow-up shots feel much smoother. |
The Secret Sauce: The Gunsmith Upgrade Path
This is the most important part of the guide. This is what separates the casuals from the pros.
Most players find a “Renegade I” and use it as-is. This is a huge mistake.
The real power of the Renegade is unlocked at the Gunsmith bench by upgrading its rarity. You can use materials to turn your Renegade I (Rare) into a Renegade II, then a Renegade III (Epic), and all the way to a Renegade IV (Legendary).
Why is this a big deal? Because unlike most guns where upgrades just mean “more damage,” upgrading the Renegade improves its HANDLING.
- Renegade I (Rare): Your slow, clunky, base model.
- Renegade II (Rare+): The lever-action gets noticeably faster.
- Renegade III (Epic): The fire rate is significantly faster. It starts to feel less like a clunky rifle and more like a deadly, rapid-fire cannon.
- Renegade IV (Legendary): The fire rate is shockingly fast. The handling is smooth.
By upgrading the Renegade, you are directly fixing its biggest weakness. A fully-upgraded Renegade IV is a terrifying S-Tier weapon that you built yourself from humble mid-tier beginnings. This journey-from a slow lever-action to a high-speed death-dealer-is the “secret” of this gun.
My Final Verdict
The Renegade is not just a gun. It is a training tool.
It forces you to learn positioning. It forces you to prioritize your shots. It teaches you to be patient and to aim for the head. It bridges the gap between the “low-tier” scavenger mindset and the “high-tier” meta-chaser.
It is, in my opinion, one of the best-designed weapons in the game. It is the heart and soul of the “Renegade” experience: starting with something average and, through skill and dedication, turning it into something legendary.
So next time you find one, do not stash it. Take it to the Gunsmith. Put a 2x scope on it. Practice your headshots. And join me in the “Space Cowboy” club.For more deep dives, weapon guides, and news, be sure to check out our ARC Raider category right here at Rivalsector.
